Method of knitting stocking toe closure

ABSTRACT

After knitting the top welt, body, heel and foot portions of a stocking, a stocking toe is closed by knitting the toe portion first course, transferring such course to dial-carried transfer elements, knitting a toe tube section, turning the transfer element-carrying dial and the needle cylinder relatively through an angle of at least 180* while the last course of the toe tube section is carried by the needles, transferring the transfer element-carried first course to the cylinder needles and knitting a selvage to finish the toe portion. The cylinder drive shaft carries a click engageable in a notch of a dial-driving ring gear for synchronous drive of the dial and cylinder. A reciprocable plunger presses the click out of its notch so that the cylinder turns independent of the ring gear and dial until the click drops into a second notch spaced circumferentially of the ring gear at least 180*. A positive stop holds the dial stationary during such relative dial and cylinder rotation.

United States Patent Lucke et a1.

[451 Oct. 15,1974

[ METHOD OF KNITTING STOCKING TOE CLOSURE Schubert & Salzer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Ingolstadt, Germany Filed: May 14, 1973 Appl. No.: 360,111

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 137,236, April 26, 1971, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 769,459, May 15, 1968, abandoned.

Assignee:

U.S. C1 66/95, 66/173, 66/187 Int. Cl. D04b 9/56, D04b 15/02 Field of Search 66/1 R, 21, 23, 170, 172 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1932 Margerison et a1 66/173 7/1935 Lieberknecht 66/173 3/1942 Smetana 66/173 4/1956 Getaz 66/187 5/1956 Reymes-Cole 66/173 9/1962 Heggie 66/172 R 3/1965 Kaylor 66/187 X 12/1965 Nebel 66/185 3,340,706 9/1967 Currier 66/95 X 3,395,554 8/1968 Wallncr. Jr. 66/173 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 881,077 11/1961 Great Britain 66/178 R 1,107,712 3/1968 Great Britain 66/187 286,142 2/1965 Netherlands 66/95 Primary ExaminerWm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert W. Beach [5 7 ABSTRACT After knitting the top welt, body, heel and foot por tions of a stocking, a stocking toe is closed by knitting the toe portion first course, transferring such course to dial-carried transfer elements, knitting a toe tube section, turning the transfer element-carrying dial and the needle cylinder relatively through an angle of at least 180 while the last course of the toe tube section is carried by the needles, transferring the transfer element-carried first course to the cylinder needles and knitting a selvage to finish the toe portion. The cylinder drive shaft carries a click engageable in a notch of a dial-driving ring gear for synchronous drive of the dial and cylinder. A reciprocable plunger presses the click out of its notch so that the cylinder turns independent of the ring gear and dial until the click drops into a second notch spaced circumferentially of the ring gear at least 180. A positive stop holds the dial stationary during such relative dial and cylinder rotation.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures s'p I? B a r r 4 a a 4 r PATENTED 151374 3.841 1 1 3 sum 30F 5 v BY WNW METHOD OF KNITTING STOCKING TOE CLOSURE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 137,234, filed Apr. 26, 1971 now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 769,459 filed May l5, l968 for Stocking Toe Closure Method and Apparatus for Circular Knitting Machines, now abandoned.

In order to close the toe portion of a stocking which has been knitted on a circular knitting machine, the stocking having an unbound lower edge is normally transferred to a special machine provided solely for the purpose of closing the toe. Such transfer not only requires extra expense associated with an additional separate operation, but subjects the stocking to possible damage due to snagging of the stocking or ravelling of the unbound edge. For these reasons various proposals for closing the stocking toe on the circular knitting machine have been made.

For example, it has been suggested that the stocking be knit starting from the toe portion in which the first course is picked up in the same manner as is conventional for knitting a double-folded welt. However, before the first course is transferred back to the cylinder needles in the turning or folding operation, such first course is twisted with respect to the last course of the toe tube portion through a predetermined angle (US. Pat. Nos. 3,327,500; 3,340,706; and 3,340,707). After completion of the toe portion the foot, heel, body and welt if desired are knitted. Although the stocking toe can be closed in this manner, the final courses of the stocking top must be a selvage edge or tab for binding the knitting of the welt edge to prevent unravelling as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,327,500 at col. 3, lines 13 to 18; col. 8, lines 64 to 67 and col. 13, lines 30 to 34. Such selvage edge or tab is relatively inelastic. Con I sequently, instead of providing an elastic welt where it is most desirable for wearing comfort as in the present invention, a comparatively inexpansible band is formed around the top portion of the stocking.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a method for completing the toe closure of a stocking on a circular knitting machine in which the welt, body, heel, foot and toe portions are knit in the conventional sequence. I

It is an important companion object to provide apparatus to effect toeclosure for conventional knitting machines which can be manufactured and installed quickly and economically.

A further important object is to provide a twisted to'e closure in a stocking having an elastic welt.

' An additional object is toprovide a twisted toe portion which isadequately reinforced but of little bulk while having an attractive appearance. I

Another object is to provide a stocking in which the toe closure isunobtrusive', particularly for stockings to be worn with-open-toed footwear.

FIG. I is a side elevation of a stocking having a toe closure of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a stocking foot portion havin'gsuch a toe closure with parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged'detail section through one part of the junction between the footportion and toe portion of such a stocking.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a stocking foot portion having a modified type of toe closure.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are somewhat diagrammatic, central vertical sections through a circular type of knitting machine showing respectively progressive stages in makingthe toe closure of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section through dial drive mechanism for effecting a twisted toe closure taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section through such drive machanism taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top plan of the drive mechanism.

In order to produce a stocking of the present invention the stocking is knit on a circular knitting machine having conventional dial-carried transfer elements for forming a double-folded elastic welt. The parts of the stocking shown in FIG. 1 are knit in the usual sequence of welt W, body L, heal F, foot and finally the toe portion. The type of heel manufactured is immaterial to the present invention, but a reciprocation-knit heel F is shown in FIG. 2 at the lower end of body portion L, after which the foot instep portion B and sole portion S are knit. The sole portion S may be reinforced if desired.

During knitting of the toe portion of the stocking the first course R1 of the toe portion Sp is picked up by the dial transfer elements T as shown in FIG. 5 similar to the procedure for knitting the double-folded welt. In knitting row R1 and the nerit succeeding row, every second needle is active in the knitting operation and alternate needles are withdrawn from yarn-receiving position. During this operation the take-up bars or transfer elements are projected simultaneously between the active needles to take up the yarn. The take-up bars are then retracted and hold the yarn portions until such portionsare to be taken up by the needles. After these two rowsare completed all of the needles are activated to knit a tube of material for the toe portion having a length at least twice as great as the desired extent, of the finished and generally folded toe portion. The last course Rn of such toe tube is retained by the needle cylinder needles while the transferelements carrying course R1 and the needles carrying course Rn are rotated relatively through an angle of at least 180 from the relationship of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 6 to twist the intermediate folded tube portion. Course R1 is then transferred to the needles'of the needle cylinder circle holding such last" course Rn as shown in FIG. 6 to knit together the opposite ends of the toe tube formed by courses R1 and Rn. There is, of course, no difficultyin knitting the welt t W, body L, heel F and foot portions of the stocking upto the first course R1 of the toe portion Sp. Such 'portions of the stocking simply pass sequentiallyand progressively downward through the conventional needle cylinder Z, as shown in FIG-'5. Also, there is no'difficulty inthe first course R1 of the toe portionSp being pickedup by the dial transfer elements T, asshownin FIG.,5, and continuing-the knitting in sequence of the earlier knittoe portion Spl and thelat er knit toe portion Sp2, as indicated in that figure.

Prior to thepresent invention, however, "persons skilled in the art of knitting stockings on circular knitting machines could not-conceive how the toe portion of the stocking could be closed by twisting without interference between the toe-closingoperation and the knit portions of thestocking in the needle cylinder The present invention has been able to solve this problem by effecting relative rotation of the dial and needle cylinder to be able to produce a closed toe by a subsequent operation while providing a sufficient passage through the toe portion of the stocking at the point of closure P to prevent clamping the knit portion of the stocking in the needle cylinder and to permit pulling knitted portions of the stocking through such passage during a toeinverting operation following completion of the knitting operation.

From the relationship of the dial and needle cylinder Z shown in FIG. 5, these parts have been rotated relatively through an angle of at least 180 to establish the relationship between the earlier knit portion Spl and the later knit portion Sp2 of the toe shown in FIG. 6. It will be observed that with the point of closure P encircling a previously knitted portion of the stocking, such point of closure has not been constricted so greatly as to prevent already knitted portions of the stocking from passing relatively freely through the aperture at the point of closure.

After transferring course R1 to course Rn andjoining of the margins of the earlier knit overlayer Spl and the later knit underlayer Sp2, several additional courses DR of nonrun character such as micromesh-courses are knit on the margin of the later knit underlayer remote from the fold between such layers; forming a selvage edge to prevent unravelling of the knitting, as shown in FIG. 7. While such additional courses are being knit, the entire folded double layer toe portion moves somewhat toward the center of the needle cylinder Z as shown, but the passage through the point of closure P is still sufficiently large to enable the knitted portion of the stocking to be received within it.

It has been found that a convenient and suitable finish for the toe portion Sp of the stocking is obtained by knitting the several additional courses as plain courses using a stretch yarn instead of knitting nonrun courses. To secure the toe portion more positively, such courses can be knit of thermoplastic yarn, which can be bonded by heat either during the knitting operation or after the stocking is completely knit to secure together rows R1 and Rn and perhaps adjacent courses.

After the completely knitted stocking shown in FIG. 7 has been removed from the knitting machine, the folded and relatively twisted overlayer Spl and underlayer Sp2 of the toe portion are turned inside out and the part of the foot portion of the stocking adjacent to the jointed rows R1 and Rn is pulled through the passage of the closure point P into'the relationship illustrated inFlG. 2 in which thelayer Spl now encircles the layer Sp2, instead of the layer Sp2 encircling the layer Spl as in the relationship shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, so that the overlayer Spl becomes the outer layer and the underlayer Sp2 becomes the inner layer.

The finished toe portion Sp when turned right side out thereby includes a closure point P formed by twisting the tube and then folding the tube to form an underlayer Sp2 and an overlayer Spl, respectively. The relationship of the rows R1 and Rn, the inner and outerlayers Sp2 and Spl, respectively, and the selvage DR are shown more clearly in thedetail section of FIG. 3. By this procedure the toe can be closed and simultaneously reinforced.

In order to insure that the tip of the toe can be adequately closed for wearing, the courses R1 and Rn must be turned relatively through at least l80 to restrict the cross section of the tube sufficiently at the location corresponding to the closure point P. To complete the toe closure, tension on the tube is created by pulling the stocking onto a form or onto the foot of a wearer. However, if the tube is twisted through an angle of 360 or more, the tip of the toe is drawn in too sharply and the closure point P forms a knot or lump sufficiently hard to makethe stocking uncomfortable to wear. It has been found that the most desirable angle of twist is 240, whereby the toe closure is well secured while providing adequate wearing comfort. The shape and size of the toe portion Sp is determined by the length of the toe tube section between courses R1 and Rn and, therefore, can be varied. Experience has shown that the optimum toe tube section length is approximately equal to two-thirds of the diameter of the circle defined by the needles.

A modified stocking foot portion of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 in which the edge of the upper foot portion B of the stocking extends closer to the stocking tip than does the edge of the sole portion S. This can be accomplished by providing an instep extension portion R2. Such instep portion is formed by changing from a continuous rotary machine drive to a reciprocating drive in a manner similar to that conventionally used for shaping the heel portion so as to'knit partial courses. The toe portion Sp is then formed in the manner described above. In this instance, however, the closure point P is not as the tip of the stocking,but is located below the tip so that when the stocking is worn the top of the foot and the tops of the toes will be covered by the instep portion B and the closure point p will be tucked beneath the toes. This form of stocking is particularly suitable for wear with sandals or other open-toed footwear.

In order to provide a run stop between the foot portion and the toe portion Sp, several nonrun courses may be knit. These nonrun courses may be knit at the end of the foot portion before the first toe portion course R1 is knit, or the nonrun courses can be knit as the first courses of the toe portion immediately following the first toe portion course R1, or nonrun courses can be knit in the area Rs of FIG. 3 both in the foot portion and in the toe portion adjacent to and at opposite sides of the first toe portion course R1.

Since the toe portion is formed of two annular superposed layers of material Spl and Sp2, the toe portion may be too bulky with respect to the rest of the foot portion if the usual weight of yarn is used for the toe portion. However, it is desirable to have the toe portion sufficiently strong; and a good quality toe'can' be provided without excessive bulk by knitting the two portions of the toe tube section Spl and Sp2 with yarn of different weight. For'example, the overlayer formed by the earlier knit tube section half Spl can be knit with a 30 denier twisted yarn and the underlayerformed by the later knit tube section half Sp2 can be knit with a 20 denier yarn. In this manner the lighter underlayer or inner layer Sp2 is coveredby the heavier'overlayer or outer layer Spl, since the exterior'of the toe is more likely to wear. If desired, however, the entire toe portion can be knit from asingle type of yarn if the yarn islighter than conventionally used for a single thickness toe portion. g

border to provide a more desirable and unobtrusive toe portion, following the nonrun courses adjacent to the junction between the main foot portion and the toe portion, every second needle can be withdrawn, cast off and remain withdrawn while the toe portion is being knit as is customarily done in knitting the take-up course for the welt. Such withdrawn needles may be excluded from the knitting operation of part or all of the toe tube section. It is desirable that these needles be picked up again shortly beyond the tube location at which point P will be formed, but if most of the toe tube section is knit with these needles withdrawn, they should at least be picked up immediately after the course R] has been transferred back to the needles. In this manner the courses at the closure point P will have been knit with only half of the available needles, and

consequently will have half as many wales. This needle control procedure can, if desired, be combined with the change of yarn denier described above. It has been found that the transfer of course R1 can be facilitated if such course is knit with enlarged loops, e.g. as a loose course. lf desired, the toe tube can be shaped so that it is necked down at the tube location corresponding to closure point P.

The stocking formed by the method set forth above includes a double layer toe portion in which the first course R1 is turned around the axis of the tube forming the toe at least 180 relative to the last course Rn of such tube so that the wales of one toe layer run diagonally with respect to the wales of the other layer. By such twisting the tube portion corresponding to the closure point P is twisted and constricted. Additional nonrun courses are knit after the two ends of the toe tube section are joined to provide a selvage for preventing ravelling of the end of the knitting. Like nonrun courses are provided in the adjacent margin of the foot portion upper section B and/or sole section S as already described.

Conventional circular knitting machines can be readily and economically modified to manufacture the stocking described above, provided that the machines include apparatus for forming a double welt. Such double welt apparatus usually includes transfer elements carried by a dial located directly above the needle cylinder and driven for synchronous rotation with such cylinder. in order to .twist the toe course R1 relative to course Rn-the dial must be rotatable relative to the needle cylinder and means must be provided for fixing the dial relative to the cyliner in a normal position for forming a double welt and for picking up course R1 and in the second rotated position for transfer of the toe course R1 back to the needles. lf itis desired, various rotative positions may be provided so that the amount of twist in that the toe tube can be selected. Although the dial drive could be released and the relative dial and cylinder rotation performed manually, it is preferred that this operation be performed automatically by the machine..For this purpose, a detent coupling for the dial and cylinderdrives may be provided which can be disengaged at predetermined intervals.

Dial drive coupling mechanism shown in FlGS. 8, 9

and 10 can be readily provided'to modify conventional machine s. A shaft 1 connects the needle cylinder drive to the dial drive in a conventional manner. A disk'2 is integral with the upper end of shaft 1 and carries ways 23, 23' beneath the disk. A slide 21 received between such ways is reciprocable radially relative to theways and disk but is always rotated by the disk. The slide has an elongated slot 25 through which shaft 1 extends to permit reciprocation of the slide relative to the shaft and disk.

Disk 2 serves as a bearing for a dial-drivingring gear 11 having cam surfaces 3 and 3 on its underside which include notches 31 and 31', respectively. A click 22 projecting from one end of slide 21 is received in one of the notches 31 and 31 to couple slide 21, and consequently shaft 1, to ring gear 11 for conjoint rotation. The notches are spaced apart circumferentially corresponding to the angle of twist desired for forming the stocking closure. The notches are shown as being spaced apart approximately 240 in the direction of rotation of the shaft and ring gear as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, slide 21 is biased to project click 22 radially outward by tension spring 26 interconnecting such slide and disk 2. Such spring has one end connected by bolt 28 to disk 2 on the side of shaft 1 adjacent to click 22 and itsother end connected by bolt 27 to slide 21 on the diametrically opposite side of shaft 1. The click is therefore biased to engage in a notch 31 or 31 when the shaft and gear are to be coupled. Click 22 can be pressed out of its notch 31 or 31' by a plunger 4 when such plunger is in its extended position as shown in the drawings. The plunger is carried in a bearing block 41 by a pin 46 reciprocable in elongated slots in the block. The plunger is extended by Bowden wire 42 or any other suitable push rod connection actuated by the control mechanism.

In order to insure that the ring gear will not be car ried along by frictional engagement of click 22 or'slide 21 with the cam surface 3 or 3 of the ring gear 11, or by momentum of the gear, when detent 22 has been pushed out of notch 31 or 31, positive holding means are provided. As shown in FIG. 10, lugs 43 and 43' are located on the upper side of ring gear 11 above notches 31 and 31', respectively. An angular finger 5 is pivotable about pin 46 on the side of bearing block 41 opposite plunger 4. Finger 5 is biased toward the complemental faces of lugs 43 and 43' by a tension spring 47. The force of such spring issufficiently great to hold finger'S firmly in engagement with one of its lugs against any frictional force which might be created between the ring gear and the slide during their relative rotation, but such spring force can be overcome by the positive driving force exerted on ring 11 when click 22 is in coupling engagement with one of its notches. In this manner finger 5 is prevented from interfering with the posi-' tive drive of the gear in the event that pin 46 has not been fully retracted to the'left as shown in FIG. 8 by the time click 22'has engage d its nextcoupling position.

When the coupling click 22 is engaged in'notch 31 the dial is in its normal positionrelativej to the needle cylinder for knitting the welt and for-picking up course R1 of the toe tube. When the toe tube has beencompleted except for its last course Rn, plunger4 isextended by wire 42 to push click 22 out of notch 31. The

dial -driving gear 11 is thereby-uncoupled so that the course R1 is transferred to the needles and interknit with course Rn and then the additional courses are knit forming a selvedge edge to prevent unravelling of the knitting. After the stocking has been completed,

plunger 4 is again extended to push click 22 out of 5 notch 31'. Such click then rides along cam surface 3 until it snaps into notch 31 so that the dial is returned to its normal position for knitting the welt of the next stocking.

If desired, several modified cams 3' and notches 31 may be provided at selected angular locations spaced at least 180 in the direction of rotation of shaft 1 from notch 31. in this instance, one or more additional plungers would be provided to prevent click 22 from dropping into any notch other than the selected notch in which it is intended to engage. Alternatively cam 3 and its notch 31' could be made adjustable circumferentially of ring gear 11. Instead of ring gear stop finger 5 and lugs 43 and 43', a brake could be provided to stop gear 11 as soon as click 22 is pressed out of a notch by plunger 4.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the manufacture of womens seamless stockings, the toe-closing method could be used in the manufacture of other hoisery, such as half-hose or socks.

We claim:

1. .The method of making hosiery, which comprises completing knitting of the hosiery by knitting in sequence the welt, body, heel, foot and toe portions of the hosiery, which toe portion includes a finished toe,

effectively closable without further knitting, sewing or securing, on a circular knitting machine having dialcarried pick-up means arranged to cooperate with a circle of needles in a needle cylinder including,

1. following completing of knitting of the welt portion, body portion, heel portion and foot portion, knitting a first toe portion course on the entire circumference of the needle cylinder and picking up such course by the dial-carried pick-up means;

2. continuing the formation of the hosiery toe portion by knitting a circular folded toe tube section following such first toe portion course, encircling the foot portion and including an earlier knit portion at one side of the fold, a later knit portion at the other side of the fold and a last toe portion course at the margin of the later knit portion remote from the fold, such folded toe tube section having a passage inwardly of the fold thereof through which the foot portion of the hosiery extends;

3. while such last toe portion course is carried by the needles of the needle cylinder circle and the fold of the folded toe tube encircles the foot portion, rotating such first and. last toe portion courses relatively through an angle of at least 1 80 and thereby constricting without closing the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section while the 4. transferring such first toe portion course from the pick-up means to the needles of the needle cylinder circle holding such last toe portion course and interknitting such first and last toe portion courses;

5. and forming a selvage beyond the last toe portion course by knitting at least one additional course;

following completing of the knitting of the hosiery, removing the hosiery from the knitting machine, and pulling the foot portion of the hosiery through the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section to remove the foot portion of the stocking from such passage, simultaneously inverting the folded toe tube section and effectively closing the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section.

2. The method defined in claim 1, in which the additional course knit is a nonrun course.

3. The method defined in claim 1, in which the additional course is knit while the first toe portion course and'the last toe portion course are both held by the needles of the needle cylinder circle.

4. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting instep portion extension courses on the foot portion.

5. The method defined in claim 1, in which the angle of relative rotation of the first and last toe portion courses is less than 360.

6. The method defined. in claim 1, in which the length of the toe tube section is approximately equal to twothirds of the diameter of the needle cylinder circle of needles. I a I 7. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the first toe portion course,-the step of knitting nonrun courses.

8. The method defined in claim 1, including, after knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting nonrun courses.

9. The method defined in claim 2, including knitting the nonrun course with stretch yarn.

10. The method defined in claim 1, including knitting the first toe portion course as a slack course.

11. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting nonrun courses, continuing knitting of nonrun courses while beginning knitting of the toe tube portion, and stopping knitting of nonrun courses after knitting of the toe tube portion has begun.

12. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the toe tube section, withdrawing every second needle and keeping such needles-excluded from the knitting operation and, prior to transferring the first course, returning such withdrawn needles for resumption of their participation in the knitting-operation.

13. The method defined in claim 1, in which the earlier knit half of the folded toe tube section, forming an outer layer, is knitwith yarn heavier than that-of which ing an inner layer, is knit.

1 UNITED STATES PATE NTV OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,841,113 Dated October .15, 1974 Invent0r(s) Heih z Lfleke-,'Konrad Schredi and Peter BO I It is certified that error appears in the above-idehtified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby sbrrected as shown' below:

Title P g section 75 should read:

--Heinz Lflc ke, Rheine; Konrad Schredl, Lentin'g 'fi/Ingolstadt; Peter Boy, Ingolstadt, all of Germany--' Signed'and sealed this 31st day of December 1974.

(ETEAL) iattest:

:IcCOY f-i. GIBSON JR. C. PARS DANN Attesting Of'ficer Commissipner of Patents 

1. The method of making hosiery, which comprises completing knitting of the hosiery by knitting in sequence the welt, body, heel, foot and toe portions of the hosiery, which toe portion includes a finished toe, effectively closable without further knitting, sewing or securing, on a circular knitting machine having dial-carried pick-up means arranged to cooperate with a circle of needles in a needle cylinder including,
 1. following completing of knitting of the welt portion, body portion, heel portion and foot portion, knitting a first toe portion course on the entire circumference of the needle cylinder and picking up such course by the dial-carried pick-up means;
 2. continuing the formation of the hosiery toe portion by knitting a circular folded toe tube section following such first toe portion course, encircling the foot portion and including an earlier knit portion at one side of the fold, a later knit portion at the other side of the fold and a last toe portion course at the margin of the later knit portion remote from the fold, such folded toe tube section having a passage inwardly of the fold thereof through which the foot portion of the hosiery extends;
 3. while such last toe portion course is carried by the needles of the needle cylinder circle and the fold of the folded toe tube encircles the foot portion, rotating such first and last toe portion courses relatively through an angle of at least 180* and thereby constricting without closing the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section while the prior knit foot portion of the hosiery extends through such passage;
 4. transferring such first toe portion course from the pick-up means to the needles of the needle cylinder circle holding such last toe portion course and interknitting such first and last toe portion courses;
 5. and forming a selvage beyond the last toe portion course by knitting at least one additional course; following completing of the knitting of the hosiery, removing the hosiery from the knitting machine, and pulling the foot portion of the hosiery through the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section to remove the foot portion of the stocking from such passage, simultaneously inverting the folded toe tube section and effectively closing the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section.
 2. continuing the formation of the hosiery toe portion by knitting a circular folded toe tube section following such first toe portion course, encircling the foot portion and including an earlier knit portion at one side of the fold, a later knit portion at the other side of the fold and a last toe portion course at the margin of the later knit portion remote from the fold, such folded toe tube section having a passage inwardly of the fold thereof through which the foot portion of the hosiery extends;
 2. The method defined in claim 1, in which the additional course knit is a nonrun course.
 3. The method defined in claim 1, in which the additional course is knit while the first toe portion course and the last toe portion course are both held by the needles of the needle cylinder circle.
 3. while such last toe portion course is carried by the needles of the needle cylinder circle and the fold of the folded toe tube encircles the foot portion, rotating such first and last toe portion courses relatively through an angle of at least 180* and thereby constricting without closing the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section while the prior knit foot portion of the hosiery extends through such passage;
 4. transferring such first toe portion course from the pick-up means to the needles of the needle cylinder circle holding such last toe portion course and interknitting such first and last toe portion courses;
 4. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting instep portion extension courses on the foot portion.
 5. and forming a selvage beyond the last toe portion course by knitting at least one additional course; following completing of the knitting of the hosiery, removing the hosiery from the knitting machine, and pulling the foot portion of the hosiery through the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section to remove the foot portion of the stocking from such passage, simultaneously inverting the folded toe tube section and effectively closing the passage inwardly of the fold of the folded toe tube section.
 5. The method defined in claim 1, in which the angle of relative rotation of the first and last toe portion courses is less than 360*.
 6. The method defined in claim 1, in which The length of the toe tube section is approximately equal to two-thirds of the diameter of the needle cylinder circle of needles.
 7. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting nonrun courses.
 8. The method defined in claim 1, including, after knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting nonrun courses.
 9. The method defined in claim 2, including knitting the nonrun course with stretch yarn.
 10. The method defined in claim 1, including knitting the first toe portion course as a slack course.
 11. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the first toe portion course, the step of knitting nonrun courses, continuing knitting of nonrun courses while beginning knitting of the toe tube portion, and stopping knitting of nonrun courses after knitting of the toe tube portion has begun.
 12. The method defined in claim 1, including, prior to knitting the toe tube section, withdrawing every second needle and keeping such needles excluded from the knitting operation and, prior to transferring the first course, returning such withdrawn needles for resumption of their participation in the knitting operation.
 13. The method defined in claim 1, in which the earlier knit half of the folded toe tube section, forming an outer layer, is knit with yarn heavier than that of which the later knit half of the folded toe tube section, forming an inner layer, is knit. 